In previous posts I have shared information on how to prepare for the ICF written exam. Since the implementation of this new exam in the summer of 2022, both coaches taking the exam and coaching schools have provided feedback to ICF sharing their experience and expressing some requests for improvement. As of August 2024, ICF will introduce some changes to this exam.

What are the changes?

  • Fewer questions: The updated exam will consist of 78 coaching situations, 3 fewer than currently. The duration of 3 hours remains the same.
  • Longer break: The break time will be increased from 5 to 10 minutes. 
  • Visible translation first: When we request to take the exam in Spanish (or another language in which the exam is available), the coach will see the exam directly in their chosen language. Until now, the cases appeared in English with the possibility of opening the Spanish translation for each question separately, a process that took valuable time. From now on it will be the other way around: by default the question will appear in Spanish, and if you want to check the translation, you will have available the original text in English, opening an additional window. It is my hypothesis that with this change the additional 30 minutes that coaches who requested to take the exam in a language other than English will no longer be granted, and that everyone will have 3 hours to take the exam.
  • On-screen presentation: Improvements have been made to facilitate case reading and on-screen navigation.
  • Feedback report: This is an important improvement. In case of failure, the coach will receive a report indicating his performance in the 4 domains covered by the exam, which serve as a guideline to prepare him if he wishes to repeat the exam. These domains are: Foundations (competencies 1 and 2), Co-creating the relationship (competencies 3, 4 and 5), Communicating effectively (competencies 6 and 7) and Cultivating learning and growth (competency 8). In no case will we have feedback on the questions answered incorrectly, nor on what the correct answer is, but it will certainly provide valuable clues to understand where we are already aligned with ICF criteria and where we are not.  
  • Free online tutorial: This also seems to me to be a significant improvement. Coaches will have an interactive simulator available to familiarize themselves with navigating the exam platform, and it will also offer sample cases to practice on. It would be great if new cases were included in addition to the 8 sample questions that are currently available, we will know soon if this is the case, but certainly the possibility to know in advance how the exam platform works is already a very big help that will allow to focus from the first moment on the exam content.

ACC Level Examination

At the moment these will be the changes in the written exam to apply for an ACC, PCC or MCC.

However, there is more news to look forward to soon for coaches seeking the ACC credential. Considering that the written exam based on coaching situations may require more client experience than most ACC candidates have, ICF piloted an ACC-only exam, the ACC Pilot Exam, earlier this year. This is also a multiple-choice exam, but it tests the coach' s theoretical knowledge, not his or her ability to apply this knowledge in specific situations. Following the success of the pilot, ICF is now developing a new exam for the ACC level.

Options in the face of new developments 

Several questions may arise from this information. 

Is it worth waiting for the changes to take effect?

If you can wait to request your exam date until August, it would allow you to benefit from the changes. It depends on the deadline you have to take the written exam. Remember that this is the last step after submitting your credential application, and you will receive the invitation after ICF has reviewed your application and recordings, which may take a few months from the time you submit everything. Once you receive the invitation to take the written exam, you have 2 months to take it.

If I am going to apply for the ACC, should I wait for the new ACC level exam?

No release date has been communicated for the new ACC exam. If you have already submitted your credential application or plan to do so soon, you will take the current case exam. If you are not in a hurry you might decide to wait, but on the one hand many ACC coaches have passed the current exam with no problem, and surely the new ACC theory exam will have its challenges as well.

Whatever your decision, I invite you to prepare thoroughly, refreshing and reviewing the competencies and code of ethics, and reflecting on your practice to connect theory with real situations, alone and with other coaches, to successfully meet this last challenge before earning your ICF credential.